The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-03-19
CONDITION OF PRISONS.
TIE REPORrOF THE JOINT COM.
MIrTEE
Shows How Carefully Each Place
Where Convicts Are Kept Was
Examined-RecGmmen datiOns.
ESPECIAL TO rHK APPEAL.


NASHVILLE, TENN, March lS.-Iu
the Senate today Mr.. Lewis submitted
the Joint report Of the PenitentiAry
Committee. The following extracts
ara taken from the report:
The prisoners at the main prison
are treated "a kindly and humanely rs
a proper enforcement OF the law and
the discipline OF the prison will ad.
init. Corporal punishment has besn
inflicted from time to time, but always
in accordance with the law and in
moderation. Some complaint Of the
meat was made to the committee by
the prisoners. We found the meat
was purchased from the stock
saved from the recent h:e in the
city. The comElttee examined the
meat and found 1t p1re, but
occasionally q piece WIS found
scoTched. The prisoners sleep in the
clothes that they work 10. Some OF
the cells were remarkably clean, but
others we're not as peat as they ought
to be, due mostly 10 the habits Of the
prisoners themselves. The prison
needs some repairs. The sanitation Ia
as good az possible in building con-
stiucted with regard TO sanitary laws,
the cells being deficient in capacity
and not afiording the requisite amount
OF light and air. The hospital, under
control Of DR.. D. ]. Roberts, is nicely
kept. The good time act Is not osr, led
out as II should BE-, and the inspectors
have not visited the prison az required
by law. The prisoners love Superin-
tendent Cain like father, and speak
in high praise OF the other oficisls.
TRACY CITY.
The sanitary condition Of this prit on
is good; whitewash 10 applied twice a
year, and to the cells enCe week;
the beds sre changed every two
months; night shirts ara furnished the
prisoners, and there is ample provis.
ion for bathing, The prisoners want
the present officials retained, The
health of the conyicts Is much better
than two years ago and the death rate
has been diminished. No one Is
whipped without orders from the ln-
soectors. DR.. Owen grades the work
Of a prisoner in accordance with his
physical ability. la the mines stout
man is required to get ont Ave or Blk
cars OF coal per day, and clnvicts are
not required to work on Sunday.
They are paid for extra work. 1he
hospital is clean. We indorse Warden
Patten.
AT INMAN
we found eleven conviJts under eight
Sen years of aee-ten boys and one
girl. The stockade is not az nicely
kept as that Tracy City, and the
do not look as cheerful and
healthy. The bedding Ia not AZ clean
as II should be. The hospital Is in
good order. The food is good, but
runs short. The prisoners
,leep in their working clothes. Their
work is not graded. There was some
complaint about the physician and
brennan. The prisoners are tasked,
and have TO drill htieen or twenty feet
per day. Three men were killed by
IN explosion In this mine In Febru.
Try and eight wounded. Three chill
lren have been born In this prison in
he last four years. The prisoners
lIb Wcll pl6hbcu Who'll bhu W@u0b anu
Cain.
COAL CREEK.
Eleven prisoners were found here
lnder 10 years Of age. All the build
ngs are well kept and In good condi- |
ion except the dining room, which
esks. The death rate lie quite small. |
The manager, Mr.. CHUNKY, thinks
Gain ia too careful,
md would like to have more work
rom the convicts. He also thinks a
more rigid discipline would make the
onvlcts happier and render them
more efficient. The llsgees do notpay
or extra work.
VARIOUS RECOMMENDATIONS.
We recommend that the solid
wooden doors OF the main prison be |
emoved, and latticed iron doors be |
ubstituted. No convict under IL |
,ears OF age should be sent to the |
mines, but should be cor hoed in the
main prison and should be kept apart
rom the old and hardened C9nvicts |
md taught come useful trade. The
good time act" should bs enforced.
That the foreman and bosses shall be |
appointed by the superintendent, Night
hirts aud socks should be furnished
III prisoners. That the physician and
brennan at Inman have not discharged
heir duties and ought TO be immedi- |
Itely removed. That superintendent
Jain has introduced many re.
oTms, That no convict should |
% cor fined In the paint shop |
onger than six months, eonst cutively. |
We recommend that the Governor up.
POINT Commissioner of Records and |
!, latistics of Prisons, to report whether
,r not the main prison should be re-
moved and located outside OF the city, |
md the propriety Of abolishing the
ease system in the State.
Mr.. Laaay, Of the House, agrees
Nth the sbove report, except where it
ecommends that young Criminals be
ouoht uaaftrl tradpa